Newcastle United struck a deal with former Toon star Stuart Pearce to allow Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow to continue their football education at Nottingham Forest.

Newcastle have beaten off competition from Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and West Ham to sign the pair - and left Pearce fuming with the Forest board.

He said this afternoon: "We had an offer from Newcastle, that I was made aware of last week, in regards to the two players going there,” said Pearce.

“The figures that were mentioned, by the representative of our club – I said I would not do that deal, when I was asked the question.

“I thought I could push their value up and that they would be worth more in the long run.

“The first I heard today about things was when Jamaal Lascelles came in and told me that he had a medical at 2pm at Newcastle.

“That disappointed me greatly.”

Despite his disappointment, Pearce has told the pair that a move to St James' Park is a good idea.

Pearce knew that Newcastle was a good step for the duo to further their careers but was also keen to have them back in his squad so they can play their part in rebuilding Forest. The pair’s loan deals are not understood to contain recall clauses – and Newcastle won’t be able to even use them in friendly games for the next 12 months.

Jamaal Lascelles of Nottingham Forest (Photo: Getty Images)

By that time United hope they have benefited from another year in the Championship under the guidance of Pearce, who played for Newcastle for two seasons under Kenny Dalglish then Ruud Gullit.

Now the former England international appears to have played his part in the arrival of two players who are bursting with potential.

England Under-20 defender Lascelles is tipped as a real star for the future while 23-year-old former Aston Villa trainee Darlow plays like an experienced head on young shoulders. Newcastle’s gain is very much Aston Villa’s loss after the Second City club released him as a kid.

Karl Darlow of Nottingham Forest (Photo: Getty Images)

Darlow said: “When I was released from Villa my dad said at the time, this could be the best thing that happens to you and it’s turned out to be really – getting signed at Forest and getting through to the first team.”

And speaking during his Forest days he spoke of his technique and outlook on the goalkeeping world. He said: “I normally just set myself a target to get through to 45 minutes preferably with a clean sheet, if not and I let a goal in then I’m determined to make it just that one goal, if another goal goes in then just to make it two goals and so on and so forth.